Harold

Harold is a 20-30 minute collection of scenes that combine together to create a fantastic show. This format was developed by Del Close and Charna Halpern in the 1960’s at the iO Theater in Chicago and is now performed in improv comedy theaters from LA to NYC and everywhere in between. Famous comedians like Chris Farley, Mike Meyers, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and many others started their career with Harold-based improvisation and continue to use the style.

Like the name Alchemy, there is a story behind the name Harold. When Del Close first created it, a student suggested he get to name it. Del said, “Well, the Beatles called their haircut Arthur, so I’ll call this Harold.” He was later quoted as saying “probably my most significant contribution and it’s got that stupid name.” Whether he liked it or not, it stuck.

Alchemy Comedy Theater not only performs Harold, but it is the culmination of our Training Center. From the introduction to scenework to the creation of an entire piece, Harold is firmly planted in the philosophy of the theater. If you want to learn and perform Harold, then take one of our upcoming classes.